ATAR Notes: Forum
VCE Stuff => VCE English Studies => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE English & EAL => Topic started by: onur369 on July 19, 2011, 06:27:59 pm
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Hey guys I have a SAC on Identity and Belonging tomorrow and I was just wondering what approach you take when writing contextual essays. Do you just discuss the prompt in an expository way? Eg: Belonging is something basic, yet that basic is a necessity of life, without belonging there is no point in life blah blah. Or do you actually put yourself in the writing and then refer to your text?
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What I usually do is an expository essay, just a really simple and conventional essay format. Basically just discuss the prompt whilst also keeping in mind that you don't push towards any specific agenda.
For each of the body paragraphs, I use this format:
- General topic sentence introducing a key concept you have derived from the prompt.
- 2 or 3 sentences explaining and building on this topic sentence. What I like to do for identity and belonging is that I say something like: 'Familial experiences can contribute to the formation of one's individual identity in the sense that..' and then I counteract this with something like this: 'With the lack of genuine and meaningful familial experiences, individuals may...' Notice the words 'may' and 'can' have been used - you need to make sure you are not absolute in your expression and present ideas only.
- Then introduce a real-life example, explain it using quotes and then relate it to the concepts of identity and belonging, and most importantly, the prompt. Discussion of the real-life example goes for around 5 or 6 sentences. Good examples to use - virtual online identity and also the Stolen Generations.
- Link the ideas of the prompt and the ideas presented in the real-life example to an explicit example from the text. Use quotes and interpretations to explain this textual evidence. Do it in the same way you did the discussion on the real-life example. So this is the text responsey part of the expository - but be careful and do not overdo it with evidence and discussion of the text.
- Finish off the paragraph with any concluding statements and a linking sentence if you want.
Of course you're going have your own individual style and way of doing the context piece, so this is just the way I tackle it. Hope it helps.
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Hey guys I have a SAC on Identity and Belonging tomorrow and I was just wondering what approach you take when writing contextual essays.
Personally, I wouldn't AT ALL take it as an essay. It really helps (well it helps me) if you try and nail down a specific form (feature article, opinionated piece, personal letter, journal entry, etc.), I think it just separates it from being a conventional essay (which I've been taught is the wrong approach for context).
As werdna said, try and develop you own style, ultimately, this takes practice. Good luck for tomorrow though :)
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Thanks Werdna and pi, legends like always ;)
Moderator action: removed real name, sorry for the inconvenience
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Hey guys I have a SAC on Identity and Belonging tomorrow and I was just wondering what approach you take when writing contextual essays.
Personally, I wouldn't AT ALL take it as an essay. It really helps (well it helps me) if you try and nail down a specific form (feature article, opinionated piece, personal letter, journal entry, etc.), I think it just separates it from being a conventional essay (which I've been taught is the wrong approach for context).
As werdna said, try and develop you own style, ultimately, this takes practice. Good luck for tomorrow though :)
I agree in part - but then again I think a 'conventional' essay structure, if executed well, can be just as effective.
Just make sure you dissect the prompt into three main ideas, portray a clear contention, and link numerous sources (core + external) to the topic clearly. The analysis of texts cannot dominate your writing but at the same time it can't be superficial. Make sure you give it an individual spin because context is all about you. Also your expression is paramount - imagery is useful. Think about many of the techniques discussed in AOS3 and use them to your advantage.
Moderator action: removed real name, sorry for the inconvenience
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ScoCliffe- Beast, thanks.
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What I usually do is an expository essay, just a really simple and conventional essay format. Basically just discuss the prompt whilst also keeping in mind that you don't push towards any specific agenda.
For each of the body paragraphs, I use this format:
- General topic sentence introducing a key concept you have derived from the prompt.
- 2 or 3 sentences explaining and building on this topic sentence. What I like to do for identity and belonging is that I say something like: 'Familial experiences can contribute to the formation of one's individual identity in the sense that..' and then I counteract this with something like this: 'With the lack of genuine and meaningful familial experiences, individuals may...' Notice the words 'may' and 'can' have been used - you need to make sure you are not absolute in your expression and present ideas only.
- Then introduce a real-life example, explain it using quotes and then relate it to the concepts of identity and belonging, and most importantly, the prompt. Discussion of the real-life example goes for around 5 or 6 sentences. Good examples to use - virtual online identity and also the Stolen Generations.
- Link the ideas of the prompt and the ideas presented in the real-life example to an explicit example from the text. Use quotes and interpretations to explain this textual evidence. Do it in the same way you did the discussion on the real-life example. So this is the text responsey part of the expository - but be careful and do not overdo it with evidence and discussion of the text.
- Finish off the paragraph with any concluding statements and a linking sentence if you want.
Of course you're going have your own individual style and way of doing the context piece, so this is just the way I tackle it. Hope it helps.
This exactly.